Will Dedicate Replica September 8 During Floyd Bennett Field Fly-In

It's described by the Experimental Aircraft Association as "a collaborative effort reflecting the true spirit of EAA." Next month, New York State chapter members will share their plans-built, full-scale replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer with visitors to the Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.

The aircraft project will be formally dedicated at a public ceremony on September 8 at the historic facility, which was New York City’s first municipal airport. The replica was delivered to Floyd Bennett Field and reassembled by chapter 594 and 528 members earlier this month.

As EAA Chapter 594’s Michaelene "Mickey" Carpenter explained, the project involved members from numerous EAA chapters. "EAA members from Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, and all over the state contributed," she said. "For various reasons, it took a long time to build, but it’s now completed and scheduled to be donated so millions of New York residents and visitors can see and discover the story of the Wright brothers."

The project was first conceived in 2001 as a tribute to the 100-year anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight. Plans were received from the Interior Department, which obtained them from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. However, they were not to full scale -- so Northrop Grumman, Bethpage, Long Island, generated full-size ones for the wing ribs, wing tip bow, pilot support ribs, and the engine support structure. The full-scale drawings were then distributed to the aircraft builders and a list of major components was generated.

Alan and Selig Rosenberg of J&A Lumber Co., Ronkonkoma, NY, donated all the wood for the project. Volunteer master wood craftsman Fred Mahnken cut and color-coded all the wood, and volunteers from EAA chapters 528 and 594 in Long Island built all the wing ribs.

Chapters 69 in Warwick, 500 in Massena, and 353 in Kingsbury, donated the funds to purchase 200 yards of unbleached muslin--Carpenter was able to procure material almost to the exact specifications used by Orville and Wilbur.

Students at the Western Suffolk County Board of Cooperative Education Services in Farmingdale, constructed the rear rudders and outriggers, while EAA Chapter 528 (Suffolk County) provided the forward rudder, or canard.

EAA members in Tonawanda (near Buffalo) built the two propellers, which were flown to Brookhaven Airport in Long Island by Jon Olstad in his Cessna 182RG (shown below). Other Long Island chapter members machined the drive sprockets and other parts for the propeller assembly. Meanwhile, volunteers from the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project at Floyd Bennett Field created a mock-up of the engine.

Chapter 594 built a special hangar at Paderos Airport in East Moriches, Long Island, where the various parts built throughout the state were assembled. That project was led by the chapter’s Henry deLaRosa. EAAer Bill Signs, pilot from the Friendship Flights, also donated to the project.

Project participants are listed on a special commemorative bronze plaque created by Russell Lay of Concordia Industries, Garden City. The plaque will be on permanent display with the airplane.

The dedication ceremony will occur during the second annual Floyd Bennett Field Fly-In, scheduled to feature about 40 military and vintage aircraft. Another attraction at Floyd Bennett Field is a British Airways Concorde supersonic jet, which is normally on display on board the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier that's currently undergoing restoration.

FMI: www.eaa.org